During the same time when many people are losing health benefits or paying more for the benefits they have, the Star Tribune reports that some Minnesota legislators are able to move in and out of coverage on an “as needed” basis.
For example, a former state legislator who wasn’t covered by the state employees health insurance plan suddenly enrolled when he faced heart bypass surgery. After the bypass, he quickly dropped the coverage, “having paid only a few hundred dollars in premiums,” according to the paper.
A state official told the paper that as many as a dozen former legislators have moved in and out of coverage in this manner in the past six years, “about five of them with regularity.”
Apparently the legislator didn't have the surgery, but I wonder why any insurer would have considered covering the bypass at all in this situation. Maybe I just don't understand, but wouldn't that be -- beyond the question of his moving in/moving out -- a preexisting condition?
There's no question about the same old song being played again. Some pigs are more equal than others.
Posted by: Marilyn Meinke-Murphy at April 7, 2005 10:26 AM